Lady Susan

Incomplete records make it impossible to know for certain when Jane Austen originally wrote Lady Susan but the novel was published in 1871 - over 50 years after her death. The novel is different than Jane Austens typical work in a couple ways. First it is epistolary novel which means it is written as a series of letters. Second unlike many of Jane Austens more popular works the main character Lady Susan is quite unlikeable. She has no redeeming qualities and while she seems to do well for herself in the novel by manipulating the other people in her life the end of the novel appropriately punishes her for her misdeeds.